WACO, Texas -
University of Missouri senior tight end Martin Rucker (St. Joseph, Mo.) was named a first-team All-American today by the American Football Coaches' Association (AFCA). Rucker becomes the 27th All-American in school history and the first at MU since defensive end Justin Smith in 2000. He is also Mizzou's first All-American tight end since Kellen Winslow won the honor in 1978.

The nation's top pass-catching tight end in 2007, Rucker leads all tight ends with his 75 receptions. The Mackey Award finalist also has a career-best 739 receiving yards and eight touchdowns, and is a team captain who is largely responsible for the leadership that has helped guide the Tigers to an 11-1 record and the No. 1 ranking in the latest BCS and Associated Press polls.

Rucker has 194 career receptions heading into Saturday's Big 12 Championship Game with Oklahoma, and he stands just seven catches shy of breaking Mizzou's career receptions mark of 200, held by former wide receiver Justin Gage, from 1999-2002. Rucker also has 2,080 career receiving yards and 18 career touchdowns.

His biggest game of the 2007 season to date was arguably a nine-catch, 109-yard, one-touchdown outing against 25th-ranked Nebraska, as the Tigers rolled to a 41-6 win on Oct. 6 in Columbia, Mo. Rucker also had a big day in a 52-24 win over Western Michigan on Sept. 15, when he grabbed 11 balls for 115 yards - both totals marking career highs. He's had three touchdowns in MU's last two games overall, including a career-best two scores on Nov. 17 at Kansas State.